I haven't jumped on the Goodell hate bandwagon (yet), but I swear not a darn thing he has done has benefited the fans. I am really starting to develop a distaste for him...even General Managers and football people alike are openly complaining about this (kept their names disclosed though).

I haven't jumped on the Goodell hate bandwagon (yet), but I swear not a darn thing he has done has benefited the fans. I am really starting to develop a distaste for him...even General Managers and football people alike are openly complaining about this (kept their names disclosed though).

Actually, this move makes sense. It puts the month of May in play for the NFL. Each month something of significance is happening, so the NFL will now be a year-round sport.

You're in the minority bro, I haven't heard anyone in favor of this besides you. As far as I was concerned, the NFL already was a "year round sport". Pushing the draft back ANOTHER month, and having to endure another long month of freaking mock drafts will lead me to my breaking point...not really....but you know what I mean lol. It's going to suck.

You're in the minority bro, I haven't heard anyone in favor of this besides you. As far as I was concerned, the NFL already was a "year round sport". Pushing the draft back ANOTHER month, and having to endure another long month of freaking mock drafts will lead me to my breaking point...not really....but you know what I mean lol. It's going to suck.

Well include me in the minority because it makes sense. They have the NFL channel and can't keep putting on top 10 moments. I won't like it either but it's a business and they are competing with the NBA so this is their way of dominating the US sports fan all year similar to what soccer does worldwide!

as much as I enjoy the road to the draft, I get kinda sick of all the over-analyzation by the end of March and am ready for the draft to be held at the beginning of April. Those last 3 weeks are agonizing as it is, another month will be torture.

Exactly Mak. I understand business decisions, but it is a blow to the fans for sure as I was already feeling that waiting until the end of April is plenty long enough to wait. Just goes to show you that for me personally NO other sport than NFL football gets me so excited. I like all sports too, but the NFL is king in my book.

I've been trying to find reasons to justify the NFL pushing back the draft by a whopping three weeks next season, to Mother's Day weekend, May 15-17. I can't find one. I'm not alone.

Talked to one personnel czar last night on the phone. "Hate it. Absolutely hate it.'' Saw one owner at dinner last night, and he said (sarcastically) his GM "would just love this ... more time to obsess on final decisions he made a month ago."

The NFL will say if the change is made -- and it's all but done, and could be approved at the meetings here today -- it's because Radio City Music Hall isn't available next year on the last long weekend of April. I live in New York City. There are other venues. Lots of them. It's ridiculous to trot out that excuse. To say the league couldn't find another place at Madison Square Garden or the Barclays Center in Brooklyn or any one of a score of other options in New York is insulting to the intelligence of any thinking person. Say what it is: three more weeks to hype the most ridiculously overhyped event on the NFL calendar. Three more weeks for spring-programming-starved NFL Network to be relevant. And less time for NFL coaches, GMs, scouts and coaching staffs to be human beings and have family lives.

the draft is already drawn out way too long. Goodell is a greedy idiot.

I think you need to add the owners to that list as well, as Goodell works for the owners. The league needs to take the football people more into account when they make these type of moves, as it effects the product that is put on the field.

By the time late April get's here, I know it draft time and ready to go. I would hate to wait 3 weeks longer, but if so, I would do it.

...The NFL will say if the change is made -- and it's all but done, and could be approved at the meetings here today -- it's because Radio City Music Hall isn't available next year on the last long weekend of April. I live in New York City. There are other venues. Lots of them. It's ridiculous to trot out that excuse. To say the league couldn't find another place at Madison Square Garden or the Barclays Center in Brooklyn or any one of a score of other options in New York is insulting to the intelligence of any thinking person. Say what it is: three more weeks to hype the most ridiculously overhyped event on the NFL calendar. Three more weeks for spring-programming-starved NFL Network to be relevant. And less time for NFL coaches, GMs, scouts and coaching staffs to be human beings and have family lives.

I am a Podcast junkie, a week or so ago on the NFL Rich Eisen podcast he mentioned this was going to happen because of Easter next year, that Radio City Hall was already booked and he felt after the change, the NFL will keep the draft in May.

TommyNoleFin wrote:

Actually, this move makes sense. It puts the month of May in play for the NFL. Each month something of significance is happening, so the NFL will now be a year-round sport.

I haven't jumped on the Goodell hate bandwagon (yet), but I swear not a darn thing he has done has benefited the fans. I am really starting to develop a distaste for him...even General Managers and football people alike are openly complaining about this (kept their names disclosed though).

I agree 100% and I would add that they way he has handled certain incidents has also validated the criticism that he plays favorites with people and particular teams.

Something that wasn't widely reported this week was that the NFL told San Francisco and Houston their upcoming Super Bowls will be either the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd week in February so be prepared for any of those weeks as you start your preparation. Leaving it open to go to an 18 game season between now and then

Something that wasn't widely reported this week was that the NFL told San Francisco and Houston their upcoming Super Bowls will be either the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd week in February so be prepared for any of those weeks as you start your preparation. Leaving it open to go to an 18 game season between now and then

The possibilities mentioned are around the idea of cutting the preseason by 2 games and either moving to an 18 game season or adding a round in the playoffs.I still don't see the players union agreeing to an 18 game season, even with a reduced preseason.Adding an additional playoff game I can see as a possibility.

Nothing wrong with the NFL pushing to eliminate meaningless games and add meaningful games, but I can see the concerns of the players union as well. And I prefer this kind of discussion to go on now, rather than in the middle of a labor dispute, like they did last year.All we can do right now is to wait and see if there is a mutually acceptable middle ground.

Here's an idea. Keep the preseason as it is, go to an 18 game regular season, add two teams to each conference, and go to three divisions in each conference of six teams in each division. Then the 18 game schedule will rotate perfectly as follows:

5 games against your divisional rivals

6 games against one other division in your conference

6 games against one division in the opposite conference

1 game against the same place team in the other division in your conference.

Here's an idea. Keep the preseason as it is, go to an 18 game regular season.

The players union will NEVER agree to extending the season without something back. Players will have even shorter more injury filled careers. There is only so much a body can take.

There are ways around that...You just add a buy week. It will extend the season with less wear and tear...Teams coming off a buy could play Thursday game and then have 10 more off days...Two games Thursday night...

There are ways around that...You just add a buy week. It will extend the season with less wear and tear...Teams coming off a buy could play Thursday game and then have 10 more off days...Two games Thursday night...

I agree there could be ways around it. I was just commenting toward the original post, which said keep the preseason as it is and add two more games. The players will never agree to that. Adding another bye week won't change their minds either. Not by itself. And will two extra games and a bye, you'll be having the Super Bowl in what....late March???

There are ways around that...You just add a buy week. It will extend the season with less wear and tear...Teams coming off a buy could play Thursday game and then have 10 more off days...Two games Thursday night...

I agree there could be ways around it. I was just commenting toward the original post, which said keep the preseason as it is and add two more games. The players will never agree to that. Adding another bye week won't change their minds either. Not by itself. And will two extra games and a bye, you'll be having the Super Bowl in what....late March???

No you would just cut a preseason game and start a week early.And i'm not so sure the players wouldn't go for an extra game check or two.